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Betrayal? Selecting the Better Tree! Retesting? (3)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Rui Qinwang instantly understood. It was probably because of faking the military achievements. But, he was unable to blame the other party for not being careful. After all, the other party in the end wasn’t built for this. Moreover, the time was too short. If there were a few more years, starting from the beginning, then everything perhaps would be different. At worst, there would still be thirty percent. Because there wasn’t enough time, thus it was ‘shortsighted’.
However, Rui Qinwang, in this moment, because of not being able to reach the expected goal, was very displeased inside, to the extent of overlooking one thing. If it was really like this, a commoner of the lowest rung, getting discovered faking military achievements, how can someone not suspect Su Bu Fu’s identity? After all, can an ordinary person do and even achieve something like this?
However, even if Rui Qinwang came to realization, Su Ming Zhang can still fool him. When time comes, Rui Qinwang would just be puzzled over how much Fu Yun Ting knows, what he’s suspecting, and such problems, and won’t think of Su Ming Zhang.
Just, in this way, perhaps it will cause even more problems for Fu Yun Ting. However, so what, Su Ming Zhang wasn’t the least bit guilty. People working under the same person competing for attention, mutually tripping one another, how normal of a thing. Right now, he was merely letting Fu Yun Ting shoulder a pot. He believe that with Jin Qinwang covering, there won’t be any big problem.
Thus, not only did Rui Qinwang not criticize him, he even consoled him.
Shortly after, the two of them both sunk into a long silence. Just, in Rui Qinwang’s heart, what they were thinking about should be in the same direction, all for the sake of his great cause. However, Su Ming Zhang was nevertheless carefully mulling over Jin Qinwang’s temperament and character. Can one say that the Jin Qinwang they knew of in the past was all just a disguise? No, perhaps that in itself was just a part of him. Just, in this way, Jin Qinwang’s terrifying level will rise by countless levels again.
A person that is callous and ruthless, but also wise and farsighted is very difficult to fool. Once discovered to be fooling him, one’s ending definitely will be exceptionally miserable.
Su Ming Zhang already had a decision inside. He decided to gamble, betting that towards insignificant people, even if participating in some things, Jin Qinwang won’t care.
As such, Su Ming Zhang wanted to ask Rui Qinwang, exactly what was that child’s origins. Just when the words were about to come out, he suddenly halted. This question, he can’t ask. If from the start, he had participated in it and already knew, then it was another story, but right now, to ask while not knowing anything, it wasn’t appropriate. After all, this kind of thing, the fewer the people that knew, the better. It was true that Rui Qinwang deeply trusted him, but Rui Qinwang similarly had a common illness shared by many in power, and that was just being paranoid by nature. Sometimes, any random little thing can all make him produce certain suspicions. As such, the gains wouldn’t make up for the losses.
Su Ming Zhang pressed down the thoughts inside, first having this matter told to Jin Qinwang before deciding. Then, he can think of a way to learn about that child’s origins from other channels. As for the possibility of Jin Qinwang already knowing everything, it obviously existed, but he can’t go seek confirmation. For some things, he would rather just do some pointless work.
Looking for a breakthrough point, one certainly would need to start from the people in the know. For Su Ming Zhang, the best option certainly would be the Su family.
Reasonably speaking, Su Ming Zhang right now wasn’t suited to come in contact with the Su family. Rui Qinwang also won’t allow it. However, Su Ming Zhang was unconcerned. Even if when time comes, he gets discovered by Rui Qinwang, he can completely claim that it was because he deeply missed his family, unable to control his feelings. And even if Rui Qinwang was furious inside, on the surface, he will still warmly forgive him. Since he already won’t lean towards him and won’t scheme for him, then everything afterwards all won’t have anything to do with him. As such, Su Ming Zhang naturally was also too lazy to continue caring about Rui Qinwang’s feelings.
Secretly meeting, and then parting ways, just this so called secret, Su Ming Zhang didn’t believe that there won’t be a third person knowing.
This time, the generals that returned to capital together, not all will stay behind. A portion of them belonged to the other regions to begin with, so after receiving the rewards, they naturally will have to return to the borders to continue defending the country.
Generally speaking, Su Ming Zhang should also be counted among them, but the people of the Ministry of War seemingly were good at guessing his Majesty’s intention, so Su Ming Zhang naturally just stayed behind. Of course, this originally was also Rui Qinwang faction’s intention. As such, it was naturally to everyone’s satisfaction.
Su Ming Zhang was the same as Fu Yun Ting in the past, becoming an idle person holding an empty post. Some were worried, but for Su Ming Zhang, this was perfect. After all, he wasn’t good at handling martial affairs to begin with. Having plenty of time, he can do some things others can’t do. Of course, right now, there were still quite a few people eyeing him, so can only take it slowly, believe that after a period of time, probably only a few will be able to remember him. After all, with no one valuing, having no power in hand, who would still pay attention to him.
When time comes, Su Ming Zhang believe that Rui Qinwang also won’t abandon him. On the contrary, it was extremely possible to have him transferred to the dark, doing some even more secretive things, even helping to deal with some shameful secrets. Those things, for the main battle, perhaps weren’t very important, but were nevertheless very dangerous. And these, if not careful, will just become fatal information against them.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
If in the past, Su Ming Zhang wouldn’t be willing to do these things, even having complaint. Even Rui Qinwang most likely will also believe it was using a talented person for an insignificant task. However, right now, no matter who, all believed it couldn’t be more suitable.
But before that, Su Ming Zhang had already passed up his ‘entrance fee’, and that was the names of the officials that have casted themselves under Rui Qinwang. This perhaps wasn’t anything big, but at least, he was able to obtain Jin Qinwang’s recognition. As such, Su Ming Zhang also slightly relaxed a breath, just fearing he would become a useless person.
When everything appeared to be methodically advancing, this year’s metropolitan exam came.
During this time in Li Hong Yuan’s past life, the war in the northwest still haven’t ended, but the metropolitan exam for the most part wasn’t affected. Just, the candidates from the northwest region for the most part didn’t take part. However, the geographical location just determined the difference in education, and the people that participated in the metropolitan exam every time weren’t many. Moreover, even if passing the metropolitan exam, in the final court exam, only very few can enter the second class, let alone the first class. Over several hundred years, there may not necessarily even be one. At least, since the founding of Qi Yuan dynasty to now, the best record was also just second class sixth place.
The metropolitan exam that took place once every three years, every time, it was all an extremely important matter, and also the most active time for scholars. Regardless of whether one participated in the exam or not, all will take part in the heated discussions, joyfully and tirelessly guessing the final rankings, and who all were regarded highly. The most popular ones usually all had their own ‘fans’.
“The exam questions this husband for the most part still remember, does Wan Wan want them?” Li Hong Yuan teased Jing Wan with a serious look.
Jing Wan just side-eyed him, completely ignoring him. Setting aside how many things have already changed from his past life, just from what he’d said himself, at this time, he although was in the capital, he seemingly was in deep waters, needing to deal with his brothers that were like wolves and jackals, while also having a father that wanted him dead, so where did he have the energy to pay attention to the metropolitan exam question? Who was he fooling?!
Getting his lies seen through, Li Hong Yuan didn’t bat an eye either, “Alright, the metropolitan exam’s topic, I indeed don’t know, but the court exam’s, I nevertheless do know. Wan Wan sure you don’t want?”
“Anything is susceptible to change before the final moment. This bit, Ah Yuan should have an even deeper understanding than anyone. If my guess is correct, in the last court exam, the exam questions should’ve already changed. Besides, even if the subject doesn’t change, those three older brothers of mine don’t need to cheat to obtain achievements. On the contrary, if their performance is too good, wouldn’t that be directly sending a live target to get attacked?”
Li Hong Yuan chuckled, declining to comment, probably acknowledging Jing Wan’s words. Alright, in any case, it was just a joke to begin with.
“Ah Yuan, I’m actually quite curious in the final top three scorers of the imperial exam.”
“The Eyes of Notice[1] and Flower Snatcher[2] both don’t remember. As for the Top Scorer, you’re also familiar with.”
Jing Wan lifted her brow, “Jiang Wan Li?”
Li Hong Yuan’s face instantly turned cold, coldly snorting, “Looks like Wan Wan is also very optimistic about him.”
It was randomly overturning the vinegar jar again. They’ve been married for two years already, so how could she not be used to it. This kind of situation, he at most would just make a remark and won’t really do anything crazy. That’s why, Jing Wan was also unconcerned.
The people she knew that will be participating in the metropolitan exam this year were just those few. If not one of her three older brothers, the few that were related to the Luo family similarly didn’t seem to be cut out for this, then it was just the currently very popular Jiang Wan Li———-her great uncle’s youngest disciple.
“Since Ah Yuan remembers him, then presumably Jiang Wan Li’s accomplishments in the future must be pretty good. At least, during your rule, it should be so.” Jing Wan’s eyes slightly narrowed, “Ah Yuan is probably partial towards using talented young men.”
Since Jing Wan said it as such, then it meant that she had a sufficient understanding of Li Hong Yuan. This bit undoubtedly pleased the living Enma, having Jing Wan taken into his arms, no longer having a sour tone, even having the mood to mention some things, “Jiang Wan Li made a name for himself at a young age. Back then, he was their province’s first place candidate in the provincial exam, and in this metropolitan exam, he was also the first place candidate. And in the final court exam, he was still the top scorer, a genuine triple first rank candidate. Not a single person had an objection, and it also wasn’t for the sake of a good omen, thus having him set as the top scorer in the last moment.”
In that case, that really was very impressive.
A triple first rank candidate can be said to be very rare. In an entire dynasty, such a case may not necessarily even appear. Perhaps, there might not even be one for several hundred years. Even if appearing, it might just be as Ah Yuan said, for the sake of a good omen. Ones that genuinely came from the exams all can be treated as a rare treasure. After all, for the current imperial exams, the more towards the end, the more subjective, and the people grading the exams for the most part all had their own preferences. To be able to make them unanimously approve, even to the extent of making them have no choice but to abandon their own standpoint, how was that not a treasure.
Fortunately, Jing Wan’s thoughts, Li Hong Yuan didn’t know, else it won’t just be a ‘sour’ remark, afraid he will really have this ‘treasure’ censored. In any case, in his perception, no matter how capable of a person, still can’t hold up an entire country, and if a country really just depended on a single person, then it wasn’t far from perishing. That’s why, capable people can similarly be ‘not too many with them and not lacking without them’.
Three years ago, she had already experienced her own people participating in the metropolitan exam. That’s why, her mentality was very calm, not the least bit nervous.
Speaking of which, Jing Wan’s fourth uncle had just passed three years ago, the ranking although not very good. At this time, he got dragged out by Luo Pei Shan again to reprimand, in front of all his brothers and nephews. Luo fourth master hated that he can’t find a crack to squeeze into.
After he finished lecturing, Luo Pei Shan looked towards the three brothers that will be going to the exam site, “If your ranking is worse than your fourth uncle, after coming back, wait to be served by the family rod.”
Upon hearing this, the three of them immediately tensed up, sharpening their minds to a hundred twenty percent.
[1] Eye of Notice – second place title in the imperial exam
[2] Flower Snatcher – third place in the imperial exam
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